Part 18 (1/2)

He went and brought her coat and hat.

”I can't go through with the play,” she wailed.

”We've got to use all the grit that's in us--whatever it is we're up against. Come! Hold out your arms!” He a.s.sisted her with the coat.

He drew her toward the door with his arm about her. ”We'll make a good long day of it to-morrow--a holiday. George Was.h.i.+ngton never told a lie.

Perhaps those books will come to themselves in the morning and realize what day it is and will stop lying! Now be brave!”

The kiss he gave her was long and tender; she clung to him. He released her, but she turned in the corridor and hurried back to him. ”I shouldn't feel as I do--worried sick about you, Frank! The books must come out right, because both of us have been careful and honest.”

”Exactly! The thing will prove itself in the end. The money in that vault will talk for us! I'll do a little talking, myself, when--But no matter now!”

”You have suspicions! I know you have!”

”Naturally, not believing as much in ghosts or demons as I may have intimated to Starr.”

She looked apprehensively over her shoulder into the dark corners of the corridor. Then she drew his face down close to hers. ”And it's hard to believe in the reformation of demons,” she whispered.

”I'm doing a whole lot of thinking, little girl. But I don't want to talk now. Do your best at the play. Hide your troubles behind smiles--that's real fighting! And we'll see what to-morrow will do for us.”

”Yes, to-morrow!” She ran away, but again she returned. ”And nothing can happen to you here, in a quiet town like this, can it, Frank?” she asked.

”Nothing but what can be taken care of with that shotgun in the back room! But don't look frightened, precious girl! There's nothing--”

But even Vaniman was startled, the next moment. The girl leaped into his embrace and cowered. Something was clattering against a window of the bank. But only the mild face of Squire Hexter was framed in the lamplight cast on the window. He called, when he got a peep at the cas.h.i.+er, who came hastening back inside the grille: ”Supper, boy!

Supper! Come along!”

Frank threw up the window. ”I'll make what's left over from my lunch do me, Squire. I'm tied up here with my work.”

”I'll allow the new Starr in our local sky to keep you away from euchre,” the Squire grumbled, ”but I swanny if I'll let your interest in astronomy, all of a sudden, keep you away from the hot vittles you need.

You come along with me to the house.”

”Squire, I can't lock the vault yet awhile. I don't want to leave things as they are. I must not.”

Vona had come to his side, she understood the nature of his anxiety. ”I am just starting for my house, Squire Hexter. I'm going to hurry back with Frank's supper, so that he won't be bothered.”

”Bless your soul, sis, even Xoa will be perfectly satisfied with that arrangement when I explain,” said the Squire, gallantly. ”I'm tempted to stay, myself, if Hebe is going to serve.” He backed away and did a grand salaam, flouris.h.i.+ng the cane whose taps on the window had startled the lovers.

”You must not take the time, Vona,” protested the young man.

”I'll bring the supper when I'm on my way to the hall. Not another word!

If I'm to lose the best part of my audience from the hall to-night, I can, at least, have that best part give me a compliment on my new gown--and give me,” she went on, rea.s.suring him by a brave little smile, ”a whole lot of courage by a dear kiss.”

She hurried away.

He was hard at work when she returned, carrying a wicker basket.

Again he protested because she was taking so much trouble, but she laid aside her coat and insisted on arranging the food on a corner of the table, a happy flush on her cheeks, giving him thanks with her eyes when he praised her gown.